Insurgents attacked three police stations in the town of Baquba northeast of Baghdad this morning, killing 45 policemen and wounding many more.
The attacks came as US-led forces were storming into the rebel stronghold of Falluja, west of Baghdad. Ahmed Fuad, in charge of the main morgue in Baquba , capital of Diyala province, said 32 people had been wounded, in addition to the 45 bodies he had received.
"We have taken back the labour union building from the insurgents and we are regaining control of the city," police Major Mohammed Ghani told reporters.
Fuad said 25 policemen were killed when gunmen attacked the Tahrir and Mafraq police stations in Baquba . Another 20 bodies had come in after a similar attack on a police station in Buhriz, a village just south of Baquba , he said.
Gunmen attacked a Diyala river bridge on a road linking Baquba with the northeastern towns of Miqdadiya and Khanaqin.
They distributed leaflets warning people in Baquba to stay away from government offices and schools.